"Míriel was the name of his mother, who was called Serindë, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor."

Míriel Serindë (Q, pron. [ˈmiːri.el seˈrinde]), also spelled Þerindë (pron. [θeˈrinde]), was the first wife of Finwë, King of the Noldor. Her son was Curufinwë, whom she called Fëanáro, which means "Spirit of Fire". Miriel's hair was described as being silver in appearance, an unusual color for one of the Noldor.

Contents

History

Míriel lived in the blessed realm of Aman, in the hill city of Tirion on Tuna, together with her husband Finwe High King of the Noldor. Her hands were skilled in the shaping of fine things, and she was unsurpassed in weaving and needlework.

There was much love between Miriel and Finwë, and even more for her son, but after giving birth to Fëanor, her body and her spirit were consumed and she wished to be released from life everlasting, saying that there was no strength left in her to bare another son. Despite Finwë's grief, and her unhappiness to abandon her young child, Míriel departed for the gardens of Lórien, to rest and regain her strength and vigour. But during her rest, the fëa departed from her body, and entered the Halls of Mandos leaving her body laying lifeless and still. Maidens of Estë took care of her body while her spirit remained in the Halls Of Mandos, so that it would not whither. In essence, she had died of free will. This was seen as a shocking event by the Valar and Eldar which had never before occurred. Manwë allowed Finwë to take another wife given these exceptional circumstances.

After the death of Finwë, Míriel was granted permission to return to life, where she entered the service of Vairë, her task to weave all the deeds of the House of Finwë in the Tapestry of Time.

Etymology

The name Míriel means "Jewel-daughter" in Quenya, from mír ("jewel") and -iel ("daughter"). Her epessëSerindë, or Þerindë in the Quenya of Tirion, means "the Broideress", referring to her work for Vairë.

Other versions of the legendarium

In the beginning of The Shibboleth of Fëanor, Fëanor is an adult, and Míriel is still alive. There the similarities between mother and son, such as their stubbornness, are revealed. Fëanor's reaction to his mother's death is also presented, as he guarded her hröa, which was placed in a garden, for some time after her passing. In the published Silmarillion, Míriel died soon after birth.